Rodeo Song

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

  She should have gone home and left Tori to find her own ride. So what if she’d promised to meet him?

  Her stride faltered. She should leave now. Cut her losses.

  But she’d driven Tori to Dallas; she couldn’t leave her. Even though Tori deserved it.

  And Garrett got to her. As usual. Despite all his fortune and fame, he was lonely. Did he regret leaving her behind?

  Or would he get sidetracked with his groupie and forget all about her?

  If he dared to stand her up after putting her through this, she’d throttle him. Or better yet, tell his mom.

  She squared her shoulders and approached the woman at the desk.

  “May I help you?”

  “I, um... My name is Jenna Wentworth.”

  “Ah, yes, Trevor will escort you.” The woman remained professionally aloof.

  That went easier than expected.

  “Right this way, ma’am.” A man in a suit ushered her to the elevator.

  No judgment in their eyes, but they probably thought Jenna was the flavor of the night.

  Her stomach churned as the elevator began its ascent. Motion sickness—the last thing she needed. She needed all her faculties straight to face Garrett. Up. Up. Up. How far? Top floor? How many floors did the hotel have?

  The elevator stopped. Finally.

  The doors slid open and Trevor ushered her out. Thank goodness. She sucked in deep breaths as her stomach wobbled.

  Trevor showed her to a meeting room where a server waited.

  “Mr. Steele and the rest of his party are on their way. Would you like something to drink or an appetizer while you wait?”

  “Iced tea, please. Sweet.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  The meeting room was huge. Large round tables occupied every available space and a wall of windows overlooked the city.

  The soft lighting echoed that of the lobby with ivory walls and shimmering taupe damask tablecloths. Peach-and-taupe satin draped the chairs. The tables held glistening crystal glasses with gold-rimmed plates, and peach roses mingled with ivory carnations.

  The waitress brought her tea, then left Jenna alone again.

  How many women did Garrett bring to private meeting rooms each year? None. They probably went straight to his suite.

  Her stomach turned. She shouldn’t be here. Even if he’d changed, Garrett’s lifestyle was nothing like hers and she couldn’t imagine living the way he did. She grabbed her purse and darted for the door.

  Just as it opened.

  A man wearing a Dallas Cowboys cap stepped inside.

  “I thought you might not show.” Garrett took off his cap, removed his dark sunglasses and pulled his ponytail from his collar.

  Her heart lodged in her throat. For the concert, he’d worn a black leather jacket and pants, but now he looked very at ease in his jeans and guitar-themed T-shirt. Like the guy she went to school with, but even better looking.

  * * *

  Clutching her purse. Had he caught Jenna on the verge of flight?

  “Sebastian and Amanda will be along any minute.” Garrett tugged his hair free of the coated elastic band. “Sorry it took me so long to arrive. Desiree held me up. She was my agent once and she’s looking for a job.” Among other things.

  Jenna’s gaze settled on his hair.

  Probably should have left it hidden. He winced. His hair might be a bit much for Jenna’s conservative sensibilities. Who was he kidding? His hair wasn’t all that wasn’t conservative—his wild years had been broadcast to the world.

  Yet, she was still here. His heart skipped a beat.

  But she’d changed, too. He couldn’t imagine the Jenna he’d known wearing leopard skin. Even though it did crazy-good things to her golden eyes and tawny hair. Maybe she’d loosened up a little.

  He wanted to touch her. To hold her and never let go. Not trusting his hands, he shoved them in his pockets. “So tell me about Jenna Wentworth.”

  “You’ve known me for years. There’s nothing to tell.” She cleared her throat and hugged herself.

  Why was she so nervous? “Fill in the last eight years. How are your folks?”

  “Still overprotective.” She slowly walked the perimeter of the room, with ice clinking against the sides of her glass, and stopped to gaze out the endless windows overlooking the city. “It’s an only-child thing. But Mama insists if she had thirteen kids, she’d worry as much about each one. If she knew the identity of my dinner companion tonight, she’d blow things all out of proportion.”

  He grinned. He could imagine Janet Wentworth in full protective mode. “And your dad?”

  “Still the sweetest man in the world. So sweet, people take advantage of him. He never learned to say no.”

  Was she purposely keeping him at a distance? He strolled toward her, spanning the gulf, and stopped at her side. But he didn’t even try to pretend the view interested him. “We might have the last two intact nuclear families in the world.”

  “It seems that way sometimes, doesn’t it? I want that someday.” Her cheeks pinked.

  Me too. “Do you still live near them?”

  “A horse pasture away. They tried to give the land to me, but I insisted on paying for it. Aubrey is peaceful.” She shrugged. “No subdivisions for me.”

  She always rambled when she was nervous. Cute.

  “I could never picture you in a subdivision. You’d plant some tree that dropped pods in your neighbor’s yard and have the whole place in turmoil.”

  A hint of a smile curved her lips.

  Garrett grinned. “It’s a wonder you managed to move out at all. I remember your mama saying you couldn’t move out before you turned forty-five, unless you got married, and you had to be thirty-five to do that.”

  She scurried to the next window. “So you have houses in Nashville and Orlando now and rarely get to come home due to your intense recording and touring schedules.”

  “You did your homework.” Except for the more personal part. Several women had claimed to have given birth to his illegitimate child, but their claims had all been proved false. So far.

  Though he’d left that scene, he wouldn’t be surprised if his past caught up with him someday in the form of a child. His gut twisted.

  Maybe Jenna didn’t know all the gory details. He hoped not. But who was he kidding? She’d have to live on Venus not to have heard of his misdeeds.

  One shoulder lifted. “I see your parents occasionally, and Tori is a huge fan, so she talks about you a lot. I’m surprised she left with your band. When she finds out we ate dinner together, she’ll probably faint.” She rolled her eyes. “Guess I better not tell her.”

  “So, I shouldn’t consider you a fan?”

  She cleared her throat. “I’d love to hear you sing a hymn again sometime.”

  A lump formed in his throat and he swallowed hard. “It’s been a while since I’ve done that.”

  “Why?”

  He sighed. “I never caught a break in the Christian industry, while the secular industry welcomed me with open arms.”

  “Do you ever go to church anymore?”

  Pressure welled in his chest, the way it always did when he thought about God. “You sound like Amanda. She begs me to go to church with her and Sebastian every Sunday. No matter where we are and no matter what time I went to bed the night before.”

  “You should go.”

  Time to change the subject. “So why did you come to the concert?”

  Her face went crimson. “Tori’s license is suspended because she got a DWI and her cousin came down with the flu. She begged me to drive her, so I made her promise to go to church with me in return.”

  “You haven’t changed a bit.” He laughed. But a question burned in his ches
t. “Why did you take my hand in the lobby and go onstage with me?” He clutched the window frame.

  “I’m not sure.” The crimson shade deepened. “I guess I didn’t want to embarrass you.”

  The air went out of his lungs. Maybe she didn’t care. He pulled a chair at a nearby table. “Let’s sit. I’ve been on my feet for hours.”

  She settled in the chair, her hands clasped in front of her.

  “Since you know everything about me, tell me about your business.” He claimed the seat across from her.

  “I decorated a couple of doctors’ offices and it took off. Most of my clients are in Denton, Fort Worth, Dallas, Garland and Rockwall. I’ve been looking into opening another store in the Galleria Dallas.” She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Daddy set up a trust fund for me. But I want to expand on my own.”

  “Natalie said something about a second store at the car show last year. I’d hoped to see you when I was in Aubrey.” There was a prolonged pause. Jenna seemed lost in thought.

  “So tell me something I don’t know about you.” Her eyes flitted from his.

  “I ran into the most interesting woman I’ve ever known today.” He caught her gaze again. “She sits across the dinner table from me, as we speak, asking me to let her in on my secrets.”

  She cleared her throat. “I bet you tell all the women you meet how interesting you find them.”

  “I’m not playing you, Jenna.” He turned her name into a caress. “I told you, I quit that scene a year ago.”

  The door opened and Amanda entered, followed by Sebastian.

  “Ah, there you are.” Garrett tried to sound happy to see them. “I was beginning to think y’all had stood us up.” Hoping, actually.

  “You know we’d never put you on the spot like that.” Sebastian let his sarcasm shine through. “But I’m afraid we won’t be joining you for dinner. We’re too tired.”

  Reprieve. Jenna all to himself.

  But Jenna’s jaw dropped.

  Would she bolt now that it was the two of them?

  “Don’t worry, honey.” Amanda patted her shoulder. “You’re safe with Garrett. He thinks the world of you.”

  The waitress arrived for their order.

  Perfect timing.

  Jenna ordered. But only a salad.

  As the waitress left, Amanda covered a yawn. “I think the tour is wearing on me. I’ll admit I’m glad it’s almost over.”

  “I keep telling Amanda she wouldn’t be so tired if she’d wear normal shoes,” Sebastian teased.

  “It’s the only way I can reach my man.” Amanda stretched up to plant a kiss on Sebastian’s cheek.

  Something twisted in Garrett’s gut. To love someone like that. To be loved like that.

  “It was nice to meet you, Jenna, and I hate to cut out on you. But I need to get this lady off her feet.” Sebastian scooped Amanda up.

  “What are you doing?” Amanda squirmed. “I can walk.”

  “Now you don’t have to.” Sebastian carried a giggling Amanda out.

  “They’re sweet together.” Jenna’s gaze narrowed. “But you, on the other hand, are not sweet.”

  Busted. Play innocent?

  Garrett splayed both palms up. “What did I do?”

  “You talked them into coming so I’d agree to join you?”

  Might as well surrender. “Guilty as charged.”

  “I can’t believe you dragged them out in the middle of the night.”

  “I didn’t drag them out. Their room is right down the hall and I knew it was the only way you’d agree to have dinner.”

  The door opened and the server set their food on the table.

  Jenna’s eyes widened. “That was fast.”

  “Once Mr. Steele called to arrange the private dining room, we put his standard order in, and your salad didn’t take any time, ma’am.” She turned to Garrett, all business, not a hint of starstruck about her. “Can I get you anything else, Mr. Steele?”

  “I think we’re good.”

  “If you need anything, press the buzzer I gave you.” She lit two candles on the table and turned away. The lights dimmed, leaving them in the flickering glow.

  Jenna frowned.

  “My eyes are always tired of bright light after a concert.” Garrett cut a bite of his prime rib and shoved it into his mouth.

  Jenna bowed her head. Her eyes closed.

  Prayer. He hadn’t even thought of it.

  Several seconds passed before her head rose.

  “Sorry.” He sipped his tea. “I’m always starving after a performance since I don’t eat before. Hard to sing on a full stomach.”

  Guilt pinged his gut. He used to pray over his meals.

  But that was a lifetime ago. Back when God expected to hear from him.

  He glanced at Jenna. Back when she’d been a part of his life, he’d never wondered who his real friends were or needed a bodyguard or realized fame wasn’t worth losing Jenna Wentworth.

  “I guess you don’t like eating alone.” She speared a tomato. “That’s why this dinner was so important to you?”

  “No.” He covered her hand with his. “I couldn’t let you pass through my life again without taking the opportunity to spend time with you.”

  Could she be the answer to an unuttered prayer?

  * * *

  A ripple bubbled in Jenna’s stomach. Garrett wanted to spend time with her, but he no longer went to church or even prayed over a meal.

  Her gaze dropped to the table. “How long have you known Sebastian and Amanda?”

  “They were the first people I met in Nashville. I actually met them through my brother.”

  “How is Bradley? I usually see him every February when he does my taxes. Isn’t Missy due soon?”

  “Next month.” Garrett nodded. “I planned my tour to finish in time for me to be there for my nephew’s birth.”

  How sweet. Maybe he was still family oriented after all. Maybe the Garrett she knew still existed despite his career and reputation.

  “He never mentioned doing work for you.”

  “Client privacy, I guess.”

  He captured her gaze again. She could drown in those eyes.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” she stammered. “I’d forgotten how green your eyes were. People in school always thought you wore colored contacts.”

  He leaned toward her—way too close. Her breath caught and her head swam as if she teetered on the edge of a cliff. She’d better watch her step.

  Chapter 3

  Mere inches separated her lips from Garrett’s.

  “What do you think?”

  She cleared her throat. “I know they’re real. You have your mother’s eyes mixed with your dad’s Cherokee coloring.”

  Focus on something other than his eyes. Her gaze shifted to his hair. So soft looking. Touchable. Oh, to bury her fingers in his hair and kiss him until she couldn’t think straight. Who was she kidding? Simply looking at him turned her brain to mush.

  “Does my hair bother you being so long?”

  “Huh?” Her gaze met his again.

  “I didn’t grow it to be a rebel.” He pushed it back from his face, pulling it into a ponytail before turning it loose to splay down his back. “After I’d been in Nashville awhile, I was so broke I couldn’t even afford a haircut.”

  Her stomach tightened. Why did it hurt to think of him alone and hungry in Nashville? It had been his choice. To leave her behind. “Why didn’t you tell your parents? They would have sent money.”

  “Too much pride. I didn’t want to admit that my plan wasn’t working. I’d moved to Nashville intent on starting a new Christian country genre and nobody was biting.” Disappointment shone in his eyes.
>
  So he did regret the turn his career had taken.

  “Anyway, my hair kept growing, and I realized the longer it grew, the less it curled.”

  “I never understood why you hated your curls. Most women would kill for curls.” She touched the hair near his cheek. Silky. She ran her fingers down the length of the strand. What was she doing? She jerked her hand away and clasped both hands in her lap as her face heated.

  “So the length doesn’t bother you?”

  “No, but I’m surprised they didn’t make you cut it when you got into country music. You don’t fit the mold.”

  He frowned, then closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.

  She started breathing again.

  “That’s exactly what Desiree thought. She discovered me in some dive and got me a record deal. By then, I’d quit wearing my cowboy hat because it looked funny with long hair. Desiree thought my long hair and no hat would be a fresh concept for the industry.”

  “And it worked. Women across the country fell in love with the hot country star with the long hair.”

  A slow grin pulled up one corner of his mouth. “Hot?”

  Was it warm in here or what? “I meant the next big thing—the newest rising star. You know.” She stuffed a too-big forkful of salad into her stupid mouth.

  As she concentrated on finishing her meal, one of his love songs began on the sound system. How much had he paid the server for her impeccable timing?

  He stood and held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

  Oh, how she remembered dancing in his arms as he sang in her ear. They’d swayed to the soundtrack he’d recorded for their prom, chills running through her. He’d been asked to sing live, but he’d refused because he’d wanted to be her date. Proof that she’d once been his priority.

  She trembled, longing to be in his arms. To dance with a backslidden Christian she was still in love with. What was she thinking?

  Garrett’s mere nearness played havoc on her comfort zone. She couldn’t take the chance of getting that close to him and keep her sanity. “I don’t dance.”

  “Au contraire. I recall dancing with you at both of our proms.”